Inverter installation

[dgh462]

I have recently purchased a Freedom 2000 inverter. The manual
states words to the effect that the unit is not ignition
protected which I interpret as, a spark may be produced during
certain functions of the device.
I had intended to install the unit in the port side lazarette,
same location as the current 10amp standard battery charger.
Since this area is also in close proximety to the engine, diesel
fumes, etc. I'm beginning to wonder if this is a smart choice
for location of the installation.
For instance, installation manuals of air conditioners clearly
state "do not mount in the engine compartment" and these also
are not ignition protected.
Any comments from those who may have installed Freedom's or
other similar inverter/chargers?
Fred

 

[budfet]

I mounted my invervter in the aft most under quarter berth
storage area. I mounted the inverter up-side down and in a
straight line with the panel. It is cool, in it's separate compartment and has been fine for eight years. It is an inverter/charger is great. The port laz. is empty except for the trash and the start battery. Forward of the inverter is four six volt batteries or 500 amp/hours.

 

[ashapiro]

<div>Fred,
I recently installed a Trace 1500 inverter/charger in the port sail locker on the aft (forward facing) bulkhead. One consideration should be the length of the wire required from your battery bank to the inverter! I got special cables made up at a local Battery Warehouse in the required wire size for greater than a 5 foot run and the cable itself was pretty pricey! The efficiency drops pretty fast with runs of greater than 8-10 feet so you'll want to keep things close.
As to your problem of "ignition protected", I didn't have that problem with the Trace but if you can squeeze the unit into the hanging locker just forward of the chart table, say way in the back (as far to starboard as possible) you won't have that problem. I have 4- 6 volt golf cart batteries and one 12 volt starting battery in the battery compartment so I couldn't fit anything else into that space.
If I can offer added help, please post another question or email me directly. Good luck. Mick MacMullan

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[don]

One of the primo features of diesel power is that diesel fuel fumes are not explosive. Those warnings about not being spark protected and not mounting in engine compartments are for gasoline engines. Unless you have some other fuel source in that locker (propane, gasoline) which should not be the case anyway, since that space is open to the bilge and the rest of the boat, you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[dickkilroy]

Fred -- I put my inverter/charger in the hanging locker just forward of the nav station. I mounted it on the vertical bulkhead as far to starboard as possible. The run from there to the batteries is about 5 feet as I recall. I like it there and I can still reach it to turn it on/off if I stretch.

 

[aurora]

I think you miss the point of a "non-ignition protected" electrical device. This type of device while connected directly to the battery system will allow a high surge of current into the alternator when you start your engine resulting in the surge "frying" the diodes of the alternator, rendering it useless thereafter. Some of the newer alternators are ignition protected. Most that have been in boats of more than 5/10 years are not. To protect your alternator to the N'th degree your entire electrical system should run from the batteries into battery isolators, thence to the switches and then to the loads. Guest makes a substantial isolater that can service two battery banks at the same time. More than two banks requires two isolators. Less expensive fix is purchase a single pole isolator and connect the appliance input to the isolator then to the appliance. On Stella Maris my batteries run to two isolators, then through two Guest Noise filters, then to the on-off switches then to the boat loads. Everything on the boat is ignition protected and navigation electronics are filtered for noise. If you have doubts talk to a good boat electrician. Good Luck.

 

[aurora2]

Isolators are worthless in this application. For a up-to-date talk on how to protect your vessels electrical system, buy Nigel Calder's "boatowner's mechancial and electrical manual".